A new Guernsey business has launched and is set to attract international interest in the island

A new business has launched in Guernsey. Lordes Luxury Car Storage looks set to become a focal point for international owners of ultra-rare automobiles that require state-of-the-art storage.

Lordes Luxury Car Storage’s facility, at a discrete location on the island, will house 106 luxury automobiles in a custom-designed, high–security environment.

The facility is a bespoke, secure installation with high specification technology for temperature, air quality, CCTV and humidity control to ensure the luxury cars are kept in optimum conditions.

Many luxury and ultra-rare cars are bought as investments and lovingly housed to protect them as an appreciating asset. Others are bought to be occasionally driven and need to be housed properly while not used to ensure they are maintained and cared for. 

Lordes chairman, Karen Lewis, and chief executive officer, Robert Lewis, have moved both their homes to Guernsey. 

“For us choosing the location for our storage facility involved a lot of factors from costs, to property selection, to taxes and to lifestyle and ease of doing business; Guernsey ticked all the boxes. We’re delighted to be a new member of the business community in Guernsey and eager to promote the island to our international client base,” she said.

Cars are shipped to Guernsey using closed-race shuttle transporters to ensure they arrive safely and in pristine condition. The same methods are used to relocate the vehicles to other locations for clients.

Mr Lewis said, as well as storing rare and exotic cars from around the world, Lordes was able to provide specialist luxury concierge services including onto and off-island shipping and special events such as track days for drivers keen to drive their vehicles.

“Investors from around the world, including the UK, Europe, Middle East, Asia and America, are increasingly seeing the value of collectable car investment - either directly buying the vehicles or through funds yielding excellent annual returns,” he said. 

“It’s absolutely crucial that the vehicles are stored in a facility that’s not only secure but is specifically designed to maintain the quality and condition of the cars; and that is exactly what we’re offering.

“We’re proud to be putting Guernsey firmly on the map with our high net worth clientele wherever they are internationally.”

Speaking at the launch event the Committee for Economic Development president, Peter Ferbrache, said: “My job is to ensure that businesses that come to Guernsey that are going to add value to Guernsey.

“(Lordes) is exactly the type of business we want to attract; it’s high value, it’s a good clean business and it’s brought to Guernsey by people who want to live in Guernsey, develop their businesses in Guernsey and live their lives in Guernsey because they realise what a fantastic place it is to do business.”

Locate Guernsey head, Andrew Carey, said: “This launch was an opportunity for the business model and facility to be brought to life; this state-of-the-art storage facility for super cars will do its bit to help put Guernsey on the map. People who maybe didn’t know about Guernsey beforehand will know about it now.”